Inner-tube protector.



R. N. LAGO & W. J. BARRETT.

INNER TUBE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. ms.

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Patnted $301.15, 1918.

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YMOND N. LAGO AND WILLIAM J. BARRETT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

INNER-TUBE PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. I5, 191%.

Application filed September 27, 1916. Serial No. 122,443.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, RAYMOND N. LAGO and WILLIAM J. BARRETT, citizensof the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inner-Tube Protectors; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the mvention, such aS will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobile tires, and has particular reference to protecting structures for inner tubes.

The object of the invention consists in the provision of a liner for the shoe into which the inner tube may be inserted, the characteristics of the liner being such that it stops nails or other puncture producingobjects from entering the inner tube.-

To this end, the invention comprises a split tubular structure which is formed of a series of interfitted rings which render the structure flexible, the rings being split and the ends thereof being outturned to provide, in the assembled structure a continuous series of looking tongues which may be engaged between the rim and the beads of the tire shoe. The structure thus formed of the narrow rings, as hereinafter described, con stitutes a very flexible inter-liner having a highly resistant surface presented to the inside of the shoe, so that nails are either stopped or deflected.

With the above objects in viewand such other objects a may hereinafter appear my invention will now be fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accom- Danying drawings:

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the protecting structure,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section therethrough, A

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the'protective structure,

Fig. 4 i a transverse section of the protector in use upon a tire, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the split rings from which the protective structure is built.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a wheel rim of ordinary structure which is adapted to receive the outer casing or shoe 2. Between the shoe or casmgEZ and the inner tube 3 1s interposed the protector casing or tube of my invention,

or rather, the protector tube or casing at carries the inner tube 3.

They inner tube is capable of all of its normal functions and retains all of its pneumatic resilience, when contained within the protective casing, since the latter is built up of a series of rings 5 formed of resilient sheet metal, as thin spring steel. As shown in Fig. 5, each of the rings consist of an enlarged internally channeled portion 6 and a smaller externally channeled annulus 7, the channels being formed by turning the marginal edges of the ring inwardly or outwardly as the Case may be so as to lie parallel to the web 8 which joins between sections 6 and 7. The rings are split, and the ends of the portions 6 are turned outwardly and rearwardly to form the tongues 9. In

assembling the split spring rings, the outer flanges of the portions 6 are sprung over the outturned flanges of the annulus 7 so that the latter ma telescope within the portions 6 and the p ay of the inturned flanges between the outturned flanges and the webs 8 imparts to assembled structure a large measure of flexibility. The inner and outer faces of the assembled structure are coated with layers of canvas or other suitable material 10. These, upon the outside prevent wear of the inner surface of the shoe or casing, and upon the inside, protect the inner tube from frictional wear.

The rings are assembled so that the splits therein form a continuous slot in the protective casing, and the tongues 9 form a substantially continuous series of tongues which may be seated upon the rim 1 and held in position by the beads of the shoe, as indicated in Fig. 4:. The structure is a particularly advantageous one for the purpose herethat the rings will readily stop or turn aside nails or other objectswhich have pierced the outer casing, and W111 prevent them from reaching the inner tube. Furthermore, the

Itlft device is so positioned within the casing that i has practically no play outside of that which is required of its inherent resilience.

\Vhatw claim as our invention is:-

A. tire protector comprising a Series of separat interlocking elements, each consisting of a metal plat including two coaxial transversely flat arcuate portions of different diameters having. a connecting web at their mutually adjacent edge portions, the major portion of each plate having a radial flange at its outer edge and the minor portion of each plate having a radiating flange at its outer edge, the major portion being continned at. its ends beyond the Web and its flange in the form of outwardly opening rim-engaging hooks, the plates being each disposed with the flange of the minor portion against the inner face of the flange of the major portion of the next plate.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

RAYMOND N. LAGO. \VILLIAM J. BARRETT. Witnesses:

CHAS. S. VVELLs, HUGO La'xoraar. 

